October 11, 2025 Board Meeting Minutes

SLA – October 11, 2025 Board Meeting Minutes  

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Meeting Place:  Huettner House  

Date: October 11, 2025 

Attendees: Tom Huettner, Bill Hagenbuck, Linda Lonson, Paul Mullaney, Brede DeSchepper, Roger Laska, Danielle Witherill. Lynn Erickson on zoom. 

Agenda: 
1) Called to order and introductions at 9:13 am 
2) Announcements & Correspondence 

  1. Fall Road Clean-up – Bill said 3 or 4 people showed up on the clean-up date and a lot of people clean up on their own time throughout the summer. Roger Laska may be willing to take over this duty in the future.  

 

  1. Install/Remove AIS Signs at Public Landings (Approximate Dates): May/October.  Bill took the AIS Signs down at the landing and will store them over winter.   

 

  1. Sissebakwet Shores Road:  Request for help to maintain sign, flag, etc. The only response to my email was Helen Gailfus with an offer to help when they are up from the cities.  Looking for help from permanent residents as Dick Stenerson slows/goes through treatment. 

 

  1. Other? Lake Country Journal Magazine – article on the good fishing in our lake and on Abby and the Sugar Lake Lodge.   

  

3) Secretary's Report/Prior Meeting Minutes Affirmation 

Vote:  September Minutes Approval – Tom Made a motion to approve, Bill seconded, all approved.  

4) Treasurer's Report - Linda’s Report  (Sent out 9/29) 

  1.  Check from an anonymous donor for $300 for 2026 membership drive costs. Linda will write a thank you. 

 

  1.  RMB Water Testing Invoice: Tom made a motion to pay RMB for water testing for $760/year, Linda seconded, all approved. 

 

  1. Website and newsletter maintenance bill approximately $260 – Tom will contact Abby to get the final invoice. 

 

  1. Investment Committee - Update on cash positions/investible funds and new CD investments (Amounts, timing, etc); CD Renewal if necessary. Curently have $12,486 cash balance plus $79k in CDs. The AIS Fund is earmarked at $66k, Weir fund earmarked at $10k, plus miscellaneous. 

 

  1. Other? The Rusty Crayfish project has been completed and no other bills owed. 

 

Vote: Approve Treasurer’s Report – Tom Made a motion to approve treasurers report, Paul seconded, all approved. 

 

5) Officer Vote/Committee Chair Selections for FY ’25/’26 

Officers:  

President:  __Tom _____ 

Vice President:  _____Bill _________ 

Treasurer:  _____Linda Lonson_______ 

Secretary:  ____Paul_______________  

* Receiver of Notice:  _________Bill________ 

Danielle made a motion to approve all new Executive Team, Linda seconded, all approved. 

 

Committees: 

Communications:  Chair: __Abby________ Co-Chair:___Paula________ 

Membership:  Chair: ___Paula_H.______ Co-Chair: __Joan_S. and Lynn Erickson_ 

Water Quality, Management & Education:     Chair: ____Tom/Roger Laska/Brede__        Co-Chair: _Pat D., Sarah S.,Bart Bergman, Martha Otis 

Budget:  Chair: ___Linda___ Co-Chair:____Tom____________ 

Social:    Chair: _____Paula H.________ Co-Chair:____Lynn E          ______ 

 

6) FY 2025/2026 Proposed Key Dates: 

a) Monthly Board Meetings (TBD:  Either ZOOM or, safety permitting, at Sugar Lake Lodge at 8:30am unless otherwise notified):  SLL to verify dates work. 

  1. April:  TBD 

  1. May 9th: 

  1. June13: 

  1. July 18th: 

  1. August: 8th: 

  1. September 12:  

  1. October 10th:   

b) Fall Meeting/Dinner: TBD- Proposed one Fall meeting at the Lodge – will be charged approximately $25/per person for the dinner, taxes, and gratuity. Paula and Tom will ask Abby for an August date. 

 

d) Timberman Tri:  July 11th 

e) Spring/Fall Clean-ups:  TBD 

f)  Install/Remove AIS Signs at Public Landings (Approx. Dates):  Early May/Oct 

 

Committee Reports:  

a) Communications: Chair:  Abby O.; Co-Chair: Gwynne B.  

 

b) Membership: Chair: Paula H.; Co-Chair: Joan S. 

 

c) Water Quality, Management & Education:   Chair: Tom H. (Temporary);  Co-Chair:  Open.  

  1. AIS Tools - Update/discussion. Bill picked up the tools.  

  1. Life Vests: follow-up on yearly activity and fall cleanup. This is the second year we have done this program. We lost 5 life vests but have 7 new donations. Bill reported to the organization our results. 

  1. Rusty Crayfish Trapping/Test Results/Follow-up – Martin was still trapping as of October 9th. Tom will reach out to Bruce Erickson to follow up on Martin’s results. Martin gave the SLA $1100 for our volunteer efforts this past year. Concerns were brought up about when is enough, enough? What is the goal – reduce rusty’s and bring back vegetation? Can we measure it? Tom will talk to Bruce over the winter.  

  1. Wakeboard Map – There is one wakeboard permanently on our lake now. We will be drawing up a map to give to owners and guests to show how close they can drive the boats to shore within the limits on our lake. Tom will work on this. 

  1. Weir is low. Tom will get the measurements. We should have them come out to take a look at the structure.  

 
d) Social: Chair: Paula H.; Co-Chair:  Kelly-Sue R. 

 

 

7)  Open Initiatives/Special Projects 

  1. Historical Record Retention Solution:  

 Next steps:   

  1. Someone should review accessibility/structure of database; possibly Alan Jechort and Sarah Laska and Bill Hagenbuck. 

  1. Load/Organize on SLA’s website if doable and searchable.  

8) FY 25/26 Proposed SLA Committee Goals Discussion 

 

  1. Newsletter:  April/May distribution – Abby usually puts it together and Tom and Bill put the articles together.  

  1. Membership - Annual drive 

2) Investment Committee -Approve investment policy and/or continue ongoing, CD ladder programs.   

3) SLA Annual Contests: Ice-out and Photo 

4) Website refresh as needed?  Replacement for Abby? 

5) AirBNB/VRBO:  County Regulation follow-up/owner follow-up; Request key contacts/annual follow-up; STR regulation tracking.  

6) AIS Fund raising efforts /Legacy Fund/Promote Donations/Grants.  

7) Lake Steward Program - New. Winter Roll-out.  

 

Adjourned at 10:59 am 

Minutes taken by Danielle Witherill, Secretary